The Head of Aceh Police about Tripa Peat Swamp: Not Only Former Governor

BANDA ACEH – Head of the Aceh Police, Inspector General Iskandar Hasan said that his office will summon everyone involved in the case of Tripa Peat Swamp.

“We will see, if involved, anyone, not only the former Governor, will be summoned,” he said to The Atjeh Post after an event Saweu Keude Kupi at Bay Café, Ulee Lheu, Banda Aceh on Friday, May 11, 2012.

Shortly before, Akhiruddin Mahjuddin, Coordinator of Indonesian Anti-Corruption Movement (GeRAK), has been questioning, why the Aceh Police has not been examining the former Governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf, who has been issuing the permit to PT Kalista Alam.

“Before the concession permit for PT Kalista Alam was issued by the Governor of Aceh, at that time Irwandi Yusuf, on August 25, 2011, the Aceh Police sent a letter with the number B/173/VIII/2001/Dit Reskrimsus to the Head of BP2T Aceh on August 11, 2011,” said Akhiruddin.

He said that the content of the letter legalised PT Kalista Alam to utilise the particular area, although it is situated within Leuser Ecosystem and without any Plantation Permit. The permit was in the process of accomplishment and for PT Kalista Alam the plantation permit was exceptionally issued by BP2T Aceh.

According to the Inspector General, the problem is not about the land clearing for oil palm plantation, but the clearing by burning.

“The problem is the burning (of the land). The permit was complete. How the process of the permit, this could be investigated at the related office,” he said.

In conjunction with the case, the Directorate of Special Crime of the Aceh Police has been accompanying the joint team of the Ministry of Environment, who conducted field visit to Tripa Peat Swamp several days before.

“The occurring peat fires are now processed by the National Police together with related department. Then they will follow up on this, also for the legal process,” said Iskandar.

The Inspector General hoped that the environmental sustainability of Tripa Peat Swamp will not be distracted in the future.

The case of Tripa Peat Swamp emerged after it was reported by the Community Concerned about Tripa on November 23, 2011 to the National Police. Based on that report, the National Police ordered the Aceh Police through a letter No. B/4472/Ops/XI/2011/Bareskrim dated on November 25, 2011 to conduct investigation.

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About endoftheicons

The Leuser Ecosystem on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia is in grave danger. Local politicians want to allow logging, mining and palm oil plantations in this vulnerable area. Sumatran orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers are already hanging on by a thread. They will not survive the destruction of the Leuser Ecosystem.

2 responses to “The Head of Aceh Police about Tripa Peat Swamp: Not Only Former Governor”

I am confused-I thought that the Permit was illegally granted but the Inspector General says PT Kalista Alam were legally allowed to use the area for plantation,even though it is within the Leuser Ecosystem with an incomplete permit which had been exceptionally issued by BP2T Aceh!What does this mean? Also the Inspector General said the problem wasn’t that the land was illegally cleared for Palm oil plantation but because it was cleared by burning!So does this mean that Tripa is open to clearing for further plantations as long as the area is not set on fire?I don’t get it-I thought we were fighting to STOP Tripa being cleared by whatever means and kept as a PROTECTED peat swamp?Can someone explain to me please what is going on?